Valve operating mechanism



June 4, 1940. E. J. PANISH VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed July 2, 1937 2 Sheets-Shes). 1

INM ENTOR June 4, 1940. E. J. |=AN}SH 2,203,233

VALVE OPERT ING M ECHANISM Filed July 2, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 74. RED

7l I0 oPEN TO CLOSE .lla

|15 Il@ INVENTOR EFW/N C/. P/V//P,

ATTGRNEY.

Patented rJune 4, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE 2,203,233 VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Erwin J. Panish, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application July 2, 1937, Serial No. 151,594 2 Claims. (Cl. 172-239)` respond to the timing function of a geared limit switch device. Whereas, usually no particular problem is involved in using some suitable switch means for terminating the valve opening movement of the valve spindle at a desired point, there is encountered a difficulty as regards the closing movement in that the valve seating pressure should not exceed a normally permissible maxi- ,mum value in order to avoid overstraining or breakage due to seating or due to obstruction of parts or jamming, say, of a valve disc or gate in its seat. Therefore it is a known practice in the design of such power-drives to provide for a pressure responsive device or yielding safety element in conjunction with, or as part of, the driving gear train, and which functions to cut off the motor power when the amount of valve seating pressure predetermined and considered permissible has been reached.

lSuch safety cut-off control is conventionally realized by way of pressure responsive axial displacement of a driving worm shaft constituting an element in the gear train that transmits the power from the motor at the driving end, to the valve spindle at the driven end of the gear train. Consequently, responsive to the amount of such pressure responsive axial shaft displacement a suitable switch may be actuated by the axial movement to cut the power when theoretically a certain valve seating pressure has been reached.

However, even with such pressure responsive control for the power cut-olf switch, it nevertheless appears that pressure cannot be accurately obtained as a result of a predetermined amount of yielding shaft displacement, and this is due to a rather incalculable over-running tendency or momentum of the motor armature effective after the power is cut and the valve has found its seat. While such inherent momentum will vary according to the variable resistance of the valve to closing, its effect may be suflicient, as .the valve disc finds its scat, to set up valve seating 'pressure somewhat in excess of that predetermined.

In view of this over-running effect of the motor armature at the point of valve seating, it has also been proposed to have suitable limit switch actuating members so timed with the valve closing movement of the valve spindle or its driving elements respectively, thatl an electro-magnetically controlled quick action clutch device is caused in effect to release the valve spindle from a predetermined seating the power-drive proper at the point of valve seating. Again, however, this is no guarantee that the power release will take place exactly at the valve seating point or else under certain desired valve seating pressure conditions, inasmuch as both the timed relationship between nal valve closing position and the fle-clutching operation, depend solely upon predetermined and adjustable space relationships which exist incident to the controlled movements of the respective limit switch actuating elements, and which continually vary in actual working condition of the valve, due to unequal thermal expansion or foreign matter changing the closing point in relation to the timing of the limit switch.

The present invention therefore contemplates curing the defects thus inherent -to the above mentioned two diverse methods for controlling the valve seating position or valve seating pressure respectively,'and a main object is to devise a valve closing control means whereby true and substantially calculable, and within extremely close limits pre-determinable valve seating pressures of a desired order are established `at once after the valve has closed and the power has been cut, no matter how much the valve closing 'point may vary under actual working conditions.

To obtain such type of control the invention proposes to have a de-clutching device influenced directly in proportion` to and from the reaction due to seating or arresting of the valve disc; that is to say, to have the degclutching device actuated through a seating pressure responsive device which will cause the de-clutching device to function when the valve seating pressure has reached a predetermined value, and in a manner to positively cut out at a precise point any injurious or undesirable continued driving eiects from any source ahead of the declutching elements.

Consequently it is al feature of the invention and productive of a new technical result, to couple the function of the aforementioned axially displaceable wormshaft with the function of the aforementioned electro-magnetically operated clutch device, in such a manner that through their coaction the desired cut-off effects are obtained, and predetermined valve seating pressures are held within extremely close limits, never -heretofore possible. A

In a preferred embodiment beth the power eut-off as well as the electro-magnetic declutching device are controlled from an electric switch device, the function of which stands under the substantially direct influence of theamount of valve seating pressure expressed in terms of yielding wormshaft displacement.

Still more specifically, a s "tch operable to control the electro-magnetic holding power of the clutch device, is adjustable relative to the axially movable wormshaft so as to make it possible to lli vary its responsiveness in terms oi valve seating pressure desired to be established. Also the switch device may be adjustable in itself with regard to relative time delay as between the switching off of the motor power and that of the electro-magnetic declutching device.

The invention possesses other objects ,and teatures of advantage, some of which with the foregoing will be set forth in the following description. lin the following description and in the claims. parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit. in the accompanying drawings there has been illustrated the best embodiment ci the invention known to me, but such embodiment is to be regarded as typical only of many possible embodiments, and the invention is'not to be limited thereto.

The novel ieatures considered characteristic of rny invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from. the following description oi a specific ernbodiment `when read in accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a sectional view of an electromechanically operated mechanism as for valves;

Fig.. 2 is an electrical wiring diagram for operating the mechanism according to Fig. i.

By way oi example the features of this invention are shown to be embodied in an operating mechanism for valves substantially as disclosed in the patent to Dean, No. ijlitidl, and this mechanism is herein only shown to the extent necessary to illustrate the features ci improvement according to this invention.

In adapting the patented design to the improvements a driving wormshaft therein has been made axially shiitable in response to driving reaction and is herein indicated by the numeral lil, and an electric switch or contact member i l has been added, which is actuable by the axial shirting movement of the wormshait to cut oil power supplied by the driving motor. Controlled by the same switch member is also an electro-inag-VV neticdly operated gear-disconnecting or declutching device also disclosed in the patented construction and comprising broadly a solenoid device l2, a latch-member U3, toggle links ill and l5 through which the latch-member is controlled from the solenoid device. That portion oi the drive gear mechanism, which cooperates with,

that is to say, is engaged or dis-engaged by the latch member lil is not shown herein, but can be assumed to be substantially the same as disclosed in the above-mentioned Dean patent, and this gear mechanism may be the one that activates a screw spindle for opening and closing a valve or the like.

More in particular the valve operating mechanism as far as herein shown (Fig. l) for the pur- F- pose of explaining and illustrating the present improvements, comprises a casing i@ which is divided by a partition [il into a lower section i8 to house the/drive gear, and an upper section i9 which houses electro-mechanical limit control and safety mechanism for the automatic opening and closing of the valve.

In the lower section l@ of the casing the parts of the drive gear mechanism shown include a worm wheel t@ meshing with the aforementioned Wormshart l@ mounted in bearings 2l and 22 in connection with the` the casing. At its free end portion the worin-1 shaft is held resiliently against axial driving pressure by a compression coil spring 23 which surrounds an extension 2li of the wormshaft. The spring is conned between a cover 25 bolted onto the casing as at 26, and a cup member 2l shown to t over the outer stationary race of a ball bearing 2li of the wormshaft. The inner rotary race of the ball bearing is shown to be held in place by way oi a sleeve 2Q and a nut il@ screwed upon the extreme threaded outer end portion of the wormshaft. At the opposite end of the wormshat is provided a clutch 3i, including a driven clutch portion @ifa and a driving clutch portion 3io to provide operative driving connection between the wormshat and a motor 32, permitting however of simultaneous axial movement of .the wormshaft as against the axial pressure of the coil spring 23 and in response to certain excess driving force.

in the upper section lil of the casing is mounted the solenoid device l2 comprising a core 33 movable within an energizable coil 3G. The core is connected with the toggle links l@ and l5 by means of pivot The upper toggle link lil has a pivotal mounting upon the casing, the lower toggle link l5 has apli-'ot connection 3l with the latch member i3. A spring 38 has one end anchored to the casing and the other end attached to an eye Sila oi the upper toggle linlr ld in a manner that tends to break the toggle connection unless restrained by the core 33 of the solenoid device l2 when the same is energized. ln other words, the solenoid device when energized will keep the latch member engaged in a manner that the drive gear between the motor and the valve spindle or the like will be operative. whereas (ie-energizing the solenoid device will permit the spring 38 to brealr the toggle connection and to withdraw the latch i3 thereby causing a disconnection or interruption of the operative train of the drive gear.

Furthermore there is mounted within the upper section l@ of the casing the electric switch or contact member il which consists of a rocker arm lil pivotally mounted in bearing lugs (il rising from the partition il. The rocker arm [lil has an upwardly extending sector shaped portion lla which carries a pair of insulated Contact members l2 andl 33, each contact member being unitary with a mounting lll and (l5 respectively, the mountings being adjustable uponv the rocker arm as indicated by bolt and nut connection @5a. There is provided a gradation lila for each mounting to indicate the degree of adjustment.

Cooperatively associated with each contact mounting lll and l5 is a pair of contact blades it and'll'l respectively which are designed to be closed or bridged by the Contact members to keep certain respective circuits closed, and which are designed so that the opening of the contacts will open the motor circuit and the energizer circuit for the solenoid device l2 respectively. According to the relative adjustment of the mountngs lll and lo? upon the switch member ll the motor circuit will be cut prior to or simultaneously with the solenoid energizer circuit, and in a manner and'for a purpose hereinafter to be explained. The rocker arm til furthermore has a downwardly extending portion @d adapted to reach into cooperative engagement with the driven clutch portion 3io and provided with a` set screw it adapted to rest against an adjacent portion of the casing, and further provided with 46 to stop the motor.

a pivoted contact member 49a adapted to reach into sliding contact engagement with the clutch portion Sla. A spring 58 between the casing and the rocker arm is designed to function in such a manner that an axial sluiting of the wormshaft in response to an excess of driving pressure will swing the rocker arm into a position or positions tantamount to breaking the motor circuit and the solenoid circuit in succession or together.

The operation of a valve actuating mechanism just described is as follows:

Normally, that is to say, with wormshaft I0 in normal or undisplaced position, the rocker arm 40 is in a position where the contact blades 46 and 41 are bridged by the contacts 32 and 43 and the contacts thus closed. With the switch member 40 thus conditioned, and certain other switches open, the motor is assumed to be at rest and the solenoid device l2 as cie-energized. Then, assuming the valve to be in open position, in order to close it the motor is started by closing a motor switch, and the solenoid is energized by closing a solenoid switch both. switches being actuated from the same, namely, the valve closing push button. This means that upon presslng the valve closing push button the motor starts closing the valve while the drive gear mechanism is held operative because of the energized solenoid device l2 holding the latch member i3 engaged in gear connecting position.

When the valve reaches its seat, continued motor power will manifest itself in excess driving pressure, causing axial displacement of the wormshaft ID as against the pressure of the spring 23. Such axial displacement will cause rocking ci' the switch member and thereby breaking of the motor circuit through the contact blades However, even after the motor circuit is broken, the momentum of the motor armature has an effect of its own which it manifests in the way of additional driving force transmitted through the drive gear mechanism l and resulting in an incalculable and perhaps undesirable seating pressure exerted upon the valve seat. In other words, the valve seating pressure increases until the momentur.; is spent unless the transmission of such additional pressure through the gear mechanism is checked. Accordingly, in order Ato check such excess effects the other contactor 43 on the switch member Il may be so adjusted relative to the first contactor 42 that it will break the solenoid energizing circuit either simultaneously with the motor power cut off -or else subsequent thereto. Cutting the solenoid energizing circuit causes' the core member l33 to be released from the magnetic holding power of the solenoid while permitting the spring 38 to break the bracing effect of the toggle links I4 and I5 and thus causing a quick action disengagement oi the latch member i3 and a disengagement or de-clutching of the drive `gear mechanism thereby rendering at once impossible any undesired or continued increase in seating pressure. Normally the solenoid cutoff will be arranged to be subsequent to the motor power cutoi and will be so timed with respect thereto that the amount of armature momentum permitted to become effective in terms of added seating pressure will not exceed a predetermined or else calculable maximum. However, if the value of the full armature momentum does not exceed a maximum in terms of permissible valve seating pressure, no gear disconnection will and need be effected.

In opening the valve an opening push button will start the motory going in the reverse direction, and the same push button will also reenergize the solenoid device l2 so as to effect reengagement of the latch member lll in order to restore operative connection of the drive gear mechanism. The motor then operates until an opening limit is reached at which the motor may be stopped by any ordinary limit switch device.

It will be clear from the foregoing that the safeguarding means for preventing undesirably high or uncontrolled valve seating pressures, are also eiective when an obstruction is met in the valve during the valve closing operation.

The functioning of the mechanism will now be more specically explained and described on the basis of the electrical wiring diagram of Fig. 2 with its switches, solenoids, and other adjuncts.

The operation according to the electrical wiring diagram of Fig. 2 is as follows: v

In this diagram the motor is indicated by the numeral 52 and includes the held windings 553 and the armature 56. Numbered the same as in Fig. l there are shown the axially shitable wormshait at 55 4along with the clutch portions numbered Sila and 3th and the switch member Il with adjustable contact members dll, 35, and the contact blades iii and 4l, all corresponding to similar parts shown in the mechanism of Fig. l. The solenoid device to control the connection or disconnection of the drive gear is here indicated by the numeral tia., and the toggle links are indicated at 62a and 63, the latch at 84, the-associated drive gear portion at @5, and at (it a suitable spring for the. toggle links.

A power switch "ier `.he motor is indicated at 6T with solenoid controlled contact members t@ and 69 for operating the motor in valve opening and in valve closing direction. A push button station with pilot lights is shown at l@ as having a valve opening push button li, a valve closing push button l2, a stop button i3, a red pilot light 14, and a green pilot light l5. Another solenoid controlled switch 'i6 is in circuit with the solenoid device previously indicated by the numeral @la with the latch member 661. There are furthermore provided and mechanically coupled with one another and with thc valve operating mechanism a plain limit switch 17. to determine the end of the valve opening movement and a pilot light switch iti.

Fig. 2 shows the wiring diagram in a condition which corresponds to the open position of the valve with gear disconnected as will be seen by the position of the latch member til. rI'he solenoid device tia is de-energized, and all switches and contacts are open or de-energized respectively except for the red pilot light switch lil which is closed because the red light indicates the open position of the valve, and also except for the contact blades and 62, which were automatically closed at the start of the opening operation.

A power supply is indicated by way of the plusand minus-poles 19 and 8l] respectively of respective positive and negative trunk lines. In order to start the valve closing operation it is necessary to press the closing push button l2 to close contacts 8l and 82 associated therewith. This sets up a momentary circuit from point 83 through conductor section 84 over junction point 85, through section 86, contact points 81 and 88 of the stop button 13, junction point 89, then through branch 90 over the contact points'8l and 82 of the closing button 12, on through conductor section 9|, junction point 92,

ings 53 respectively in series.

from tracing the respective conductors between conductor section 93, point 9G, and by way of conductor section 95 over the contact blades lil and back through conductor section El@ to point ao in the power switchlil.

At this point the valve closing circuit set up by push button l2 is enective in that it energizes the solenoid windings 96 or holding magnet of the power switch contact member t@ causing the same electro-magnetically to close contact points `@il and llt as well as contact points 99, ltll and lill, lll. From solenoid windings S5 the circuit continues over terminal point lli and conductor section llBll to point lllEi of the negative trunk line which includes conductor sections lllli, llil, lllll terminating in point llitl.

The closing of the contact points @l and @il establishes a holding circuit for the contact member @8, although meanwhile the push button l2 has been released, in that now the push button l2 is by-passed bya branch extending from point lll, over conductor llll, .contact points 9i, @8, to point lill.

The closing of the contact points @il and llill, and lill and lll, starts the motor by supplying current to the armature 5G and the field windthe supply lines, the power switch, and the motor.. From the positive pole of the supply line the circuit starts at the point l l2, continues over motor terminal lll, leld windings 53 to motor terminal lll, on through conductor section ll, over contact points l2 and llil, conductor section llli to motor terminal ll'l, through the armature 5G, motor terminal llll, conductor section lll), over points lll@ and 99 in the power switch, through conductor section l 2li and point l2l to join the negative pole by way of conductor i222 and point lllti.

The operation of the closing push button however has a double function in that it also sets up a circuit to energize the solenoid device lila to cause engagement of the latch member Gil to restore operative connection or the drive gear. That is to' say, push button l2 will also close a circuit trom point 92 on the positive side of the circuit through a conductor section junction point lZl, conductors l25, point lZli, conductor l2l, contact blades G2, conductor lll, to a terminal point l2@ or the switch l@ and through solenoid windings llll, terminal point l3l, and conductor M32, to the negative pole llll. This circuit energizes the solenoid coils U3@ causing a contact member lill of the switch TIG to close contacts l32 and l33 to establish a mag- 'net holding circuit for the contact member ld after the momentary push button circuit has ceased to exist, this magnet holding circuit being readily traced from point lSll on the positive trunk line, through conductor lli, contact points lSB' and conductor lli, point lZVG, conductor l2?, contact blades conductor [12%, and through the solenoid coils l@ to the negative pole lill).

The switch member then also closes contacts l-ll and litt thereby establishing an energizing circuit from the positive trunk line through conductors lil@ and lllll, the coils of the solenoid device lila, and the conductor lill terminating at point ll? on the negative trunk line.,

With the solenoid device @la thus energized, the core of the solenoid forces the toggle links lita and G3 into their latch bracing position, and the latch tt will' drop into the recess lilla to es- This will be clear,

U23, past aaoaass y tablish the operative connection of the driving With the drive gear connection thus effective, the motor now operates to close the valve and after reaching the valve seat the resistance thus set up in the drive gear will cause a longitudinal displacement of the wormshaft 55 which rocks the contact member lll until the contact blades ll'l slide off the contact 33, thusbreaking the circuit that energizes the solenoid Qt of the switch member lili. Accordingly, the switch member fait drops out, cutting the motor circuit. However, the armature -momentum has potential energy which tends to increase the valve seating pressure unless the mechanical power transmission for it is broken.

Therefore, in order to eiect a quick action disconnection of the driving gear, the contact l2 is so adjusted that a certain predeterminable amount of excess valve seating pressure expressed in terms of displacement of the wormshaft 55, will break the contact between the contact blades fili and the contact 32, thus breaking the energizing circuit for the solenoid windings lili, and opening the switch lli.

This at once breaks the circuit that energizes the solenoid device bla, releasing the core thereof which permits the spring lili to break the bracing eiect of the toggle links and and thereby to disengage the latch @il from the drive i gear, the result being that the drive gear connection is broken precisely at a predetermined degree of valve seating pressure, and any surplus armature momentum is then left free to exhaust itself without reaching the valve spindle i yetreleased a movable contact member lll of the switch lll. As soon as this happens, that is when a notch llll or" the disc lli permits the contact member M2 to separate fromr a companion contact member M5, say, at the end of the valve closing operation, the red light lll will drop out.

The circuit which in this way controls thc red pilot light leads from point on the positive trunk line, over conductor lf3@ and point ll'l, conductor ll, contact members llEi and M3, conductor llQ, to red light lll, and on through conductor l5@ to point lol on the negative trunk line.

1n the meantime, that is during the valve closing operation, the green pilot light 'l5 has also been lit since a control disc lZ of the'switch ll has also rotated in unison with the other control disc M2 and has displaced from its notch ltll a movable contact member ld of the switch lll. Consequently, the control disc l5@ is so arranged that at the end of thevalve closing operation the green light only, will remain lit. The circuit which in this way controls the green pilot light leads from point 85 on the positive trunk line through conductor ltl, over point lill and a conductor lbs, over Contact points ldt and ltl, through conductor ld', to green pilot light lo', and conductor l5@ to point ll on the negative trunk line.

The valve opening operation and its automatic 35,

limitation are simple and trivial, inasmuch as no special safety measures are required beyond providing a suitable limit switch for the motor power.

Accordingly, pressure upon the Valve closing push button 1I will initiate the valve closing movement by closing push button contacts and |6|. This causes re-energizing the solenoid device Sla in order to restore operative connection of the drive gear mechanism as previously described, and the circuit thus established passes from point 89 on the positive trunk line over the push button contacts 16| and |60, through a conductor |62, point |63, conductor |64, point |24, and on through conductors |25, point |26, and conductor |21, by way of the contact blades 62 and conductor |28 to energize and actuate the magnetic switch 16 in a manner previously described, thus eventually energizing the solenoid device Ela to effect drive gear engagement.

Along with the restoration o the drive gear connection through solenoid device 6|a, the motor must be started. At this time, that is after the preceding valve closing operation, the contact member 11, controlled by disc |52, must be assumed to be in closed position, that is with contact points |56 and |51 on the one hand, and points |61 and |61a on the other hand closed. The green light 15 at this time has dropped out with contact points |43 and |45 assumed to be open. Under this set of conditions, if the valve opening push button 1| is operated to close the contact points |60 and |6l, a motor starting circuit is established from point 88 on the positive i trunk line, through contact points |6|, |60, conductor |62, point |63, conductor |66, through the closed contact points |61 and |61a, conductor |10,.solenoid windings |1| for the switch member` 65 and through conductor |12 to point |05 on the negative trunk line. This momentary current causes the closing of the switch member 69, that is to say the closing of the contact points |13 and |14, thereby setting up a solenoid holding circuit as from point on the positive trunk line, through conductor |15, contact points |13 and |14, conductor |66, contact points |61 and |61a, conductor |10, solenoid windings |1|, and conductor |12, to point |05, on the negative trunk line. At the same time ofrcourse the motor switch member 69 closes contact points |16 and |11, and |18and |19 to start the motor 52 going in a direction opposite to that of the valve closing operation.

'Ihe motor then continues until the disc |52 driven by the valve actuating mechanism has reached a position where the contact memberv 11 again will have found the recess |53 of the disc |52, thus separating the contact points |56 and |51, and |61 and |61a, stopping the motor by opening the motor circuit in releasing the switch member 69 from the solenoid eiect of the windings |1|. Atthe same time, due to the opening of the contact points |56 and |51, the green pilot lignt 15 will drop out, while the red pilot light 14 will have been re-lit, due to the closing of contacts |43 and |45 during the opening of the valve. It will be clear that the red light alone indicates the open position of the valve, whereas green indicates the closed position, although during the valve opening or valve closing operation, both lights will be lit.

A stop button 13 in the positive trunk line permits to stop the valve opening or closing operation at any desired phase.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a valve construction having an actuating spindle for the valve closure member therein and which spindle is operable to open and close the valve; automatically controlled power driven mechanism for the valve spindle, which mechanism comprises a motor, a train of power transmitting elements between the motor and the spindle, one of which elements is resiliently displaceable under the influence of substantially predeterminable excess driving reaction, means controlled from said displaceable elementV and by a predetermined amount of displacement thereof, to cause the cutting of the power supplied to the motor, and further comprising controllable disconnecting or declutching means operable for positively and instantaneously terminating the transmission of power driving eiects through said train of elements, a primary actuating device to render operative or inoperative respectively said declutching means, a secondary actuating device controlled from said displaceable element and responsive to displacement eiective thereon, in a manner to cause said primary actuating device to eiect mechanical declutching in response to a predetermined increment of displacement of said displaceable element due to a corresponding increment of excess driving reaction, whereby there are instantaneously shut off or rendered impotent any power drive eects from the motor during the closing movement of said valve spindle, and automatic electric switch means for limiting the opening movement of said spindle.

2. In combination with a valve construction having an actuating spindle for the valve closure member therein and' which spindle is operable to open and close the valve; automatic switch controlled power driven mechanism for the valve spindle, which mechanism comprises a'motor, a train of power transmitting elements between the motor and the spindle, one of which elements is resiliently displaceable under the influence of substantially predetermnable excess driving reaction, means controlled from said displaceable element and by a predetermined amount of displacement thereof, to cause the cutting of the power supplied to the motor, and further comprises controllable disconnecting or declutching means operable for positively and instantaneously terminating the transmission of power driving effects through said power transmitting elements, an electrically operable control device to render operativeor inoperative respectively said declutching means, an electric limit switch device controlled from said displaceable element and responsive to displacement effective thereon, in a manner to cause said electrically operated control device to'eiect mechanical declutching in response to apredetermmed increment of displacement of said displaceable element due to aA corresponding increment of excess driving reaction, whereby there are instantaneously shut oi or rendered impotent any power drive effects from the motor during the closing movement of said valve spindle, and other automatic electric switch means for limiting the opening movement of said spindle.

ERWIN J. PANISH.

coI 

